The President said he doubted the sincerity of the communist rebels with their conflicting statements.

“Kaya ako di ako kumukumpyansa,” he said,

Malacañang had earlier said it was disturbed by the recent attacks of communist rebels even after the National Democratic Front (NDF) ordered its armed wing to refrain from launching offensive against state forces.

In a separate speech in Hagonoy, Davao de Sur, Duterte said the government must continue to talk peace with the communists.

“I have to talk to the communists but this time I hope you do it in a modality that is really sincere,” he said.

The President appealed to Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison saying, “You are sick, you are not dying but you are seriously sick. Wouldn’t you be happy to see and to die that there is peace in this country before you finally close your eyes?”

Photo: The Lapanday Foods Corp. box plant in Mandug, Davao City burning after an attack by the NPA. (file photo from Kilab Multimedia)

MANILA, Philippines — Davao traders are backing Senator Panfilo Lacson’s call to put off peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines until the insurgents prove their sincerity.

Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. president Ronald Go and Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association president Alexander Valoria, in a joint statement on Friday, appealed to the government to heed Lacson’s call and take into account the damage inflicted by the rebels on Mindanao’s businesses.

“We agree with Senator Lacson and join his call for the government to scrap its peace negotiations with the NDF. Unless the NDF and its armed group on the ground can show that it is sincere in pursuing genuine peace, it would be useless and futile to keep on talking,” said Valoria.

“Treachery and betrayal have no place on the peace table,” Go said. “The continuing atrocities of the NPA prove that there is no central communist leadership that is capable of pursuing genuine peace with the government.”

“If that is the case then Senator Lacson is right to advise the government to hold off negotiations with the NDF,” he added.

Lacson made his suggestion following the June 18 NPA raid on the police station of Massin town in Iloilo, from which rebels seized several firearms without firing a shot.

The raid happened as the government and NDFP issued statements on their willingness to observe a truce in Mindanao to allow the military to focus on ending the crisis in Marawi City.

While the NPA raid did not happen was not in Mindanao, Malacanang described it as “opportunistic in nature.”

Valoria also asked government to review a recent directive for security agencies to surrender their high-powered firearms to the Philippine National Police.

“We are respectfully appealing to authorities to review this recent directive as we are left at the mercy of the NPA and other lawless elements which, in most cases, are now able to carry out their attacks using high-powered guns,” he said.

Valoria said PBGEA members operate banana and pineapple farms in areas that are infested with NPA insurgents “and it is precisely the presence of our high powered firearms that deter the NPA from attacking us.”

“This has been proven in the past. The NPA will laugh at our shotguns and pistols as they can now easily overrun our facilities. Without a chance to defend ourselves, many may see that there is no other choice but to pay the NPAs revolutionary tax,” he lamented.

He also welcomed other government initiatives such as the training of militia units to augment security forces.

Iloilo City under 'red alert' after NPA attack in nearby town(UPDATED) Alleged members of the NPA attack Maasin town, less than an hour's drive away from the provincial capital

Bea Cupin

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – At least 50 persons, whom police believe to be members of the New People's Army (NPA), raided a police station in Iloilo province on Sunday, June 18.

In a report to Camp Crame, the Iloilo provincial police office said at around 11 am on Sunday, "about 50" alleged NPA members on board a truck "raided" the police station in Maasin, Iloilo.

They "carted [an] undetermined number of FAs (firearms)" and took with them a police patrol vehicle, according to the report. No cops were injured during the incident.

Iloilo City has been placed under "red alert status" as a "precautionary measure" following the incident, Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said on Sunday. That means all local officials and police are expected to help each other and closely monitor the situation in their areas."There is no reported threat to the city. This is just a precautionary measure. Let's all stay alert and vigilant," said Mabilog in a Facebook post.

Maasin is less than 30 kilometers away from Iloilo City, the capital of Iloilo province.

The suspects withdrew to the mountains of Alimondian, Iloilo, according to police. An RMN Iloilo report said the police patrol car was later retrieved.

The Coronacion Chiva "Waling Waling" command of the NPA later claimed the attack, citing alleged abuses on local vendors by police and the police's supposed inability to curb illegal drugs and gambling in the area.